By Christina Annunziata

Community.

Whenever I hear that word, my thoughts are immediately of Crossfit. The community of the sport is what drew me in and kept me coming back for that second, third and fourth class. Walking into the gym alone, not knowing one person and being introduced to the 2012 Open was scary! I was handed a light wall ball and was told to try to complete as many as I could in a set amount of time, shooting for 90 (instead of the 150). Oh yea sure, I got this; this ball is light… uh yea right! But I did get it, I got through my 90 wall balls, not quickly but I did it. I did it because every single person in that class was cheering for me the stranger, encouraging me to the finish.  Those 90 wall balls were tough, exactly the challenge I was looking for; but it was the community of people at Crossfit Danbury that kept me coming back.

Since that day, I have seen the community of Crossfit shine in so many different lights. From local competitions to the Games, athletes and fans alike are cheering for the person in first but also the person in last and everyone in between, making sure they finish and supporting them every step of the way. Crossfitters are welcoming, helping new members and drop ins feel right at home in their gym. I have seen the community of Crossfit come together in celebration for a fellow member of the gym, or be there if he/she needs a shoulder to lean on. One of my favorite ways I have seen the Crossfit community come together is when we join forces to support a cause.

Barbells for Boobs is a cause that is very close to my heart. When I heard about this fundraiser, I knew I had to be a part of it. We got a small group of people together to introduce the cause to CFD. We worked with the coaches, picked a day to do the workout and began telling the members at the gym. Before we knew it, everyone there had made a fundraising page and was reaching out to friends and family to help raise funds for the cause. And it didn’t stop there. Our members took it even a step further and invited others in our surrounding area to join in, inviting businesses, friends and family to join us on a fun filled day. By the end of the day, we had far surpassed our fundraising goal and by the end of the year, we were speechless. Our community had raised enough to land us a spot on the Pink Bra Tour in 2014!!!

At the Games, a few of us had the opportunity to meet the faces behind the cause. I was able to meet the men and women that work all day and night to help those unable to get the screenings or treatment they need. They were amazing, incredible, inspiring and I can go on! I still get goose bumps thinking about the hundreds and thousands of people across the country, people we will probably even never see in our lives; coming together in any way that they can to work towards the same goal. I am so looking forward to another few months of planning the event and watching our community come together again. Without the time, energy, and commit of our community, we would have never been able to surpass our goals and be a stop on the Pink Bra Tour!!! I have been so blessed to be able to be apart of this team, this community… Crossfit!